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Posts by Jason Morgan

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School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
To add to that:

Teachers are actual human beings, not just pieces of hardware. Of course, there are bad ones—terrible ones who really ought to be let go—but more than half of them are decent people doing an incredible job while being paid peanuts. I don't know what kind of deep-seated grievances you all have with educators (believe me, I have my own share of baggage), but there's no need to be this aggressive about it. The school system I attended back when I graduated in 2005 doesn't even exist anymore.
Would anyone care to share their experiences?

On top of everything else, acting as a homeroom advisor requires at least three, ideally four, hours of work throughout the year that simply isn't compensated. If we could just hand everyone a stopwatch every time they started working, it would be quite enlightening to see just how much unpaid overtime is actually happening.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Michelle Nelson4 said:Basically, looking at these ten points, there isn't a single meaningful change regarding teacher training itself. Everything else, naturally, needs a complete overhaul. My personal favorite has to be that first point about exclusion and segregation—it’s actually quite funny how they don't mention those "hundreds of online articles" claiming that "everyone" is giving up on inclusion. And honestly, I'll pass on all the empty rhetoric about kids staring at screens and becoming mindless. Like I mentioned before, most people seem to think a chalkboard and some chalk are the absolute peak of technology for children, even though those very same people would demand laptops, projectors, and free high-speed Wi-Fi at school for their own personal use (point 5). Apparently, for these kids, that's just too much advanced tech; their little brains can't handle it, especially while they're still in elementary school. Though, reading through all these supposed struggles with mastering a simple tablet, I feel like I'm just scrolling through a generic newsfeed...

As I was saying, it's basically the National Institutes of Health level of expectations applied to a bare minimum...

That post wasn't intended as a direct rebuttal to you. I saw from the jump that you're a lost cause because you believe teachers are entirely to blame and bottom-of-the-barrel, implying I have no clue what I'm talking about—but you certainly claim to be the expert here. By all means, tell me what your profession is so I can enlighten you on what the actual situation is on the ground and how things truly need to improve.

That was my response to the others lurking in this thread.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Quincey:
I find myself once again contemplating the sheer absurdity of our current situation, though I suppose that’s become a bit of a hobby for me lately. There is a certain weight to these developments that feels almost too heavy to process, yet here we are, staring directly into the sun. It is quite a peculiar feeling, isn't it? One moment you think you have a handle on the trajectory of things, and the next, the ground shifts entirely beneath your feet. I sometimes wonder if I spend far too much time overanalyzing the cracks in the foundation, perhaps even more than is strictly necessary for a sane person, but then again, being "sane" in this climate seems like a rather low bar to clear. Still, one must attempt to maintain some semblance of order amidst the chaos. kaže:
Wait, let me get this straight. Are you actually suggesting that I’m lying? Are you implying that for twenty-five years, we haven't been subjected to an endless, exhausting loop of "necessary changes," "modernization efforts," and "sweeping reforms" that—in reality—never actually change a single thing? Are you telling me I’m being dishonest when I point out that the latest headline regarding these much-touted reforms is simply labor unions demanding they delay implementation? And then there's the matter of the schools. Despite the constant whining in the papers about how our educational system is technologically obsolete, you conveniently failed to mention that you personally have no use for technology in the classroom and, quite frankly, can't be bothered to deal with the hassle of using it.

If I’m the one lying, then perhaps the flaw lies within my own character. But if these are all cold, hard facts, then we have to consider the possibility that the failure lies within the system itself. And which system are we actually talking about? Is it our education system? One that you, perhaps, are a part of? Or is it that peculiar, almost schizophrenic delusion held by those of you who claim to be "part of the system" only when you’re playing the victim—blaming terrible parents or unruly children—yet suddenly find yourselves entirely separate from that very same system the moment someone dares to critique the structure as a whole?

When it comes to the specific individuals within the system, I tend to reserve my judgment until I’ve actually crossed paths with them, whether that’s in person or through a screen. And look, I'll be the first to admit that some of them are truly exceptional people. But let's be realistic: a few standout individuals don't actually make a system good; they simply serve as proof that the majority of it isn't.

P.S. – Don’t forget to sign it. 😉
It seems we have reached yet another chapter in this ongoing saga regarding labor disputes and the precarious nature of modern employment. I was recently reading an article about the recent strikes involving unionized workers—specifically those within the transportation and logistics sectors—and it struck me how much our current economic climate feels like a powder keg waiting for a spark. The report details how these organized groups are pushing back against what they perceive as unsustainable working conditions and stagnant wages. It’s a classic standoff: the corporations, bolstered by massive profit margins, versus the people actually keeping the wheels turning. One can't help but feel a certain weary empathy for the workers caught in the middle. There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes with fighting for basic dignity when you are up against institutional giants. Of course, the media tends to frame these events through a lens of pure disruption—focusing on the delayed shipments or the frustrated commuters—but that misses the underlying tension. We often ignore the systemic friction until it manifests as a headline. It makes one wonder if we are witnessing a fundamental shift in the American social contract, or if this is merely the inevitable byproduct of an economy that prioritizes efficiency over humanity. I find myself ruminating on whether these concessions will actually lead to lasting change, or if they are simply temporary patches on a deeply fractured system. It’s a bit like trying to fix a crumbling foundation by repainting the shutters; it looks better for a moment, but the structural integrity remains questionable. One hopes, perhaps naively, that the dialogue leads to something more substantive than just a momentary truce.

The union is pushing for an extension, and honestly, I can see where they're coming from. It’s all because... The SEC hasn't done a single thing to properly train or educate our teachers.It’s truly remarkable how he maintains that particular persona in the media, despite everything we know to be true. It’s always the same old story, isn't it? "Just hang in there, buddy, once we throw you into the furnace, it'll all work out." Honestly, watching him navigate that infamous Loomen platform feels like a regressive trip back to my college days, staring at repetitive methodology and pedagogy assignments. I feel like an absolute idiot sitting here watching this unfold; I mean, I can interpret outcome tables perfectly well without needing a specialized digital interface or a fancy badge to tell me what the data says.

Moving forward.

Modernization isn't about handing out tablets, for heaven's sake!

Our entire educational system needs to be razed to the ground and rebuilt from scratch. It’s long overdue. We need a complete overhaul that actually delivers on:

Specialized schools or segregated classrooms for children with intellectual disabilities and specific learning needs—it’s a heavy subject. These kids simply cannot keep pace with the standard curriculum, and the resulting sense of isolation, inadequacy, and insecurity is incredibly real for them. It isn't just a feeling; they can see, quite plainly, that they are falling behind their peers. But frankly, why should the SEC care? They seem perfectly content to play pretend with this whole "inclusion" movement while these students suffer.

Honestly, if we want to actually fix this mess, we need to stop talking in circles and start looking at the numbers. We should be hiring ten times the amount of special education specialists we currently have on staff. It’s not just about classroom support, either—we absolutely need to station a full-time psychologist in every single school across the country. It’s common sense, really, though I suppose common sense isn't always common these days.

We really need to take a hard look at how many hours are allocated to specific subjects in the curriculum. It’s frankly absurd—we’re spending more time on religious studies than we are on music, art, shop class, geography, or even science in the fifth grade. It feels like a complete joke from the Department of Education.

We really need to strip away most of the fluff from the curriculum and actually force kids to use their brains. Now, bear with me here—because I know exactly how this is going to play out: once we move toward standardized testing reform, there’s going to be an absolute uproar from parents. They'll start complaining the second we stop prioritizing rote memorization and mindless fact reproduction. Once grades inevitably dip because students can't just regurgitate a textbook, they'll finally have to face the music. They'll realize they don't actually have a house full of child prodigies; they just have perfectly average kids.

Once the entire federal leadership has been completely overhauled and they finally appoint someone to head the SEC who actually has experience beyond working at a local high school, then—and only then—will we have something worth discussing.
This so-called "reform" isn't actually reforming anything at all; it’s nothing more than a superficial layer of makeup applied to an old face.

They haven't actually changed a single significant thing, aside from rebranding everything with fancy new titles. Honestly, the internet infrastructure across the entire country is absolute garbage. Laptops and computers? A distant dream. Projectors? Forget about it. We’re still scrambling for copier paper and chalk. There is zero logistical support to actually implement any of this; the only priority seems to be feeding the press a narrative that every teacher is thrilled and the pilot program was a resounding success. Now, I don't personally know all the teachers—though I certainly know enough of them—but I can tell you there are plenty who were part of the experimental group this year and are actually quite happy with the reforms. But the higher-ups? They just want to announce that we'll be handing out tablets, as if that's the magic fix! Oh, wow, tablets! Because clearly, that was the one thing standing between us and a world-class education system. Tablets! Why didn't anyone think of that sooner? 🙄

6. We need to implement a standardized testing system for high school admissions, where entry into specific vocational tracks is contingent upon passing specialized entrance exams. This would effectively address the issue of...

7. ...those frankly delusional parents who insist their child is a literal prodigy deserving of nothing less than a perfect 4.0 GPA.

8. I’m also calling for the introduction of formal suspensions and actual American-style detention for all those "precious little angels" who are labeled as "troublemakers," "hyperactive," or just "spirited." We need to afford teachers the authority of official public servants. To hell with mere warnings and reprimands.

9. If you look online, you'll find countless articles about nations that are actually BACKTRACKING ON TECHNOLOGY. They spent years convinced that digital tools were the absolute pinnacle of modern education, only to realize—based on recent studies—that it was actually causing cognitive regression in students. Does anyone here actually understand the fundamental necessity of drawing, handwriting, or tactile modeling? Do you have any inkling of how these activities shape the brain? Compare that to the mindless staring at a glowing screen. There is no comparison.

10. In case anyone feels the need to lecture me on my language, let me be clear: if your only response to my points is to complain about my swearing, it simply proves you have no substantive argument left to make (which makes sense, if you don't actually work within the system and know what we're dealing with). Besides, I am Jason Morgan in this thread, and I will swear on this forum whenever I see fit.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
It’s frankly loathsome, malicious, and utterly devoid of any factual basis—mostly because it stems from a blatant, personal vendetta against every single educator currently in the profession.
So, I find myself at a crossroads: I can either spend an entire hour hunting down links and drafting a rebuttal for you, or I can simply head out for a coffee. I’m choosing the latter, as I see little point in trying to reason with someone who clearly holds all teachers in such utter contempt. If you think they're all nothing but scoundrels, there isn't much I can do to change your mind. Perhaps someone else might find my arguments more convincing.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Ronald Chavez2 said:She absolutely dismantled her with those arguments, didn't she?👍

My actual goal was just to tell her she’s clueless and that her feet stink, honestly.
I really don't see the point in wasting my breath trying to argue against statements like that.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Michelle Nelson4 said:@nosorog - You’ve covered so much ground here that I can't possibly give you a point-by-point response right now, but personally, homeschooling isn't even on my radar. My expectation is simply that the government provides a coherent education for our kids that actually reflects the era we live in. Honestly, the days of chalkboards and slate tablets belong in the history books—just like the era when kids had to lug around seven-pound stacks of paper every single day. We should be living in the 21st century by now. Furthermore, in this century, computer science shouldn't just be a subject you touch for two hours a week; it needs to be an integrated, daily part of every single discipline. If some people think having three measly hours a month counts as "innovation" or "opportunity"—usually accompanied by a side of complaining about charging cables and Wi-Fi signals—it really just shows how far behind they are when it comes to digital literacy.

It’s funny, though. Just as teachers who were used to chalk and slate eventually figured out that a student's responsibility was to show up with pencils, sharpeners, and a notebook with blank pages back in the mid-20th century, I suppose our current educators will one day realize that a student's responsibility is to have a fully charged tablet with enough data or pre-loaded content ready to go. Until we reach that stage, I guess I'll just find myself quoting comments like these. They don't surprise me, but they certainly manage to drag my already low expectations even lower. It's all just noise...

Anyway, that's my two cents... (typed on a tablet with a keyboard, ten-finger blind typing 👍)


Are you someone who actually holds a university degree and has studied pedagogy or instructional design? Are you pursuing systematic training within the American educational system, whether as a teacher or a specialist? Do you even read actual research papers or academic articles?
If the answer to any of those questions is "no," then please, do us all a favor and kindly buzz off with all this passive-aggressive posturing.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
I have absolutely no desire to invest in a tablet, primarily because I’d likely only find it useful for maybe three hours a month during some sort of interactive review session. As for grammar drills, there are plenty of other ways to tackle those without dealing with the sheer headache of constant recharging, software glitches, and all that nonsense. Not to mention the ever-present question of whether my internet connection will actually hold up when I need it...
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Nicholas King said:Honestly, someone making a statement like that should probably be slapped with a permanent ban from teaching immediately.

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 🙄🙄🙄🙄
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
nimbletiger7 said:I don't think tablets are happening. As far as I know, countries that tried relying on them gave up because the results were pretty terrible. Take Portugal, for instance. I guess maybe Ethiopia is the only one still trying that route.

Workbooks aren't mandatory this year, but I imagine publishers will push hard to make sure teachers still ask for them. So, the total number of books will probably end up being the same anyway.


That is such a revolting thing to say.
Every single publisher tries to butter up the teachers by handing out all sorts of little extras—calculators, planners, posters, even tote bags—but absolutely nobody is going to choose a textbook company based on how much they sucked up to them just before the selection process.
For crying out loud.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Nicholas King said:The real issue here—as a reaction to this imaginary scenario of student extortion where the primary demand is "unlimited absences"—is the question of why anyone would force a student to attend lectures in the first place; specifically, why attendance should (or shouldn't) have any bearing whatsoever on the grade they earn.

Testing knowledge is essentially a process equivalent to weighing someone—it's simply determining a state of being. Forcing students to show up to class and subsequently conditioning a passing or better grade on that physical presence is just like a situation where someone shows up to be weighed having achieved a perfect weight and boasting massive biceps, triceps, and all the other muscles—only to have the scale operator screw them over because they didn't do their workouts at 8:00 AM at the MuscleBuscle gym, but instead chose some other time at some other location.

It's pure feudalism.

Ironically, you've raised my blood pressure so much with your passive-aggressive tone and constant facepalming that you completely failed to realize I am actually against mandatory attendance just as much as you are—I certainly wasn't claiming, even in my wildest dreams, that attending class isn't mandatory under most of these professor-feudals.

That demand for unlimited absences, which is what started this whole conversation, isn't something students should be asking for as part of some imagined extortion scheme; it's quite possibly the most normal thing in the world.

I find myself agreeing that the whole thing is utterly nonsensical.
But, alas, such is the reality we inhabit.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Betty Wood54 said:Not really. Most colleges didn't actually change that much when the new academic structure was implemented. It’s mostly just a 3+2 setup now, and they introduced those standard credit hours. The professors who used to demand attendance still demand it, and the ones who didn't, well, they don't. It's pretty much the same thing, I guess.

"Most"? That's a stretch. It’s really just the Law and Business schools where they force you to show up simply because there aren't enough chairs in the lecture halls.
In my experience, you could count the number of professors who actually tolerated absences on one hand—and that’s including people I’ve heard from over at Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, and even the engineering departments. You were basically allowed three absences per semester.
Before these reforms, you could practically skip whenever you felt like it (unless it was a lab). Honestly, I don't even want to get into a full-blown debate about it; his passive-aggressive tone and that constant facepalming are enough to give me high blood pressure.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Nicholas King said:Honestly, when you're dealing with college students, this is a completely reasonable demand.

I mean, why does a student actually HAVE to show up to every single lecture? If they show up to the midterm or the final exam having mastered all the material—so what? Is the response just, 'Sorry, kid, you missed class, so beat it'? That seems fundamentally flawed to me. 🤦

Well, at most American universities since the credit reform... yes, they do.

Susan James said:I've noticed that after various workshops or extracurricular programs, kids often fill out surveys about what they learned and their overall experience. If those surveys avoid loaded, leading questions, we could easily design similar ones for teachers too.

In many American schools, kids participate in sociometry assessments as early as second grade. From everything I’ve gathered, the results often line up perfectly with what the teachers are seeing in the classroom anyway.
Kids are actually quite perceptive, and we shouldn't be afraid of their feedback. Instead, we should view it as valuable data to help us improve how we teach.


Most of my colleagues conduct this kind of research independently through anonymous end-of-year surveys or by checking in with the eighth graders.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Ronald Chavez2 said:Why couldn't you ask those same things to an elementary student?

I was actually sitting in an elementary school classroom thinking the exact same thing.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
In high school? Sure, you could get a decent read on things. But elementary school? Not a chance. You’d have to dig much deeper than just surface-level vibes. I suppose one might ask how much they are actually absorbing versus just listening to a lecture, or if they feel comfortable enough to speak up when they're lost—and more importantly, if they actually receive a helpful answer. You'd need to gauge whether the teacher seems genuinely prepared or if they show up looking like they just rolled out of bed and wandered into the classroom without a clue. You'd look at the depth of the curriculum coverage, the teaching methodology, and the actual quality of information being passed down. Those are valid inquiries. However, under no circumstances should you ever corner a child with manipulative, open-ended nonsense like, "Do you like your teacher?" or "Are the lessons fun?" That is simply not how you get the truth.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Elementary school students simply lack the maturity required to evaluate their teachers; frankly, it is quite absurd and unprofessional to allow pre-adolescent children to hold such sway over a person's career.
In the faculty lounges, there is a very clear understanding of who actually puts in the work and who is merely coasting, and any principal worth their salt knows exactly which staff members are assets and which are liabilities.
Furthermore, children are incredibly easy to manipulate, and any teacher who lacks a work ethic can easily "buy" their affection. In my own experience at the school, the students absolutely adored the biggest slacker on staff—a man who did essentially nothing except collect a paycheck while playing soccer with the kids during class time. He gave everyone straight A's, so naturally, they loved him because he was single-handedly boosting their GPAs. Of course, they were desperate for him to stay on the schedule.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Well articulated, hiddendriver34.

As an educator, I find myself in complete agreement with your points, and frankly, I have no intention of squandering my precious time or mental energy on such tedious, mindless debates.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Richard Perez3 said:Alright.
I mean, probably not, but I’m holding out hope that this is just more window dressing, just like everything else in this country.
Right?

Regrettably, I must concur.

To implement any meaningful reform, we would first need to conduct an exhaustive, side-by-side comparison with how things are done on the ground elsewhere—an exercise in due diligence that, quite frankly, will likely never happen. We are talking about massive structural shifts: overhauling the entire scheduling system, pouring a mountain of capital into physical infrastructure and updated equipment, and finally exploring the feasibility of one-way instructional models. It’s a monumental undertaking, really.
It seems to me that if we are actually serious about a meaningful overhaul of our education system, we aren't just talking about minor tweaks or a few new textbooks. No, to truly modernize our schools and prepare students for the real world, we would need billions upon billions of dollars. It’s a staggering figure, I know, but one cannot expect a complete structural revolution on a shoestring budget.
With all due respect, the lot of them are absolute morons.
We’re still stuck with two whole hours of religion, while geography and science have been squeezed down to just ninety minutes for fifth and sixth graders. Honestly, what a complete joke of a reform. It’s absolutely maddening.
Well, it finally happened. The textbooks for the reform have landed on our desks.
I must give them credit where it's due; from a purely aesthetic standpoint, the visual overhaul is striking. The graphic design is entirely different, lending the whole thing a much more polished and serious tone. However, I’ve already committed the actual substance to memory, and frankly, it’s the exact same old story—not an ounce of reform to be found in the content itself.
Absolute garbage.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Nicholas King said:I honestly don't see how the abstract concept of learning outcomes—which, by the way, isn't some localized invention—has anything to do with whether or not I actually grasp the specifics of this particular reform.

What I’m laying out here isn't a matter of bias or personal prejudice; these are simply cold, hard facts, not subjective opinions.

Besides, here’s a little challenge for you all: this forum is absolutely crawling with educators—so why don't all those professionals whose knowledge assessments are subject to external oversight before they're even administered step up? I'd love to see them write down exactly how they define a grade given to a student in a clear and concrete way. Let’s just take a single grade like a "passing" mark, for instance.


Wait, what?

Richard Perez3, in about three years, everyone will be caught up in some massive "educational reform." 🙄
So he won't really feel the heat until his kid hits fifth grade.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Susan James said:I was actually wondering what specifically is being reformed here and what kind of changes we can expect for the kids next year...

Well, looking at my specific field of study, it’s quite literally just a rebranding of the grading components.
We’re basically just deciding which parts get a numerical grade and which ones get qualitative feedback.

As for other departments, I couldn't say, but this particular "reform" is a bit of a joke.
School Reform: Thoughts? in Students & Teens ·
Calling this a reform is a massive stretch.
I’ve sat through all the training sessions and town halls they've thrown at us so far.
Honestly, this "reform" is so trivial it barely deserves the title.
It’s hard to wrap my head around the idea that we might just keep getting progressively worse ministers—especially when they have a background in education—but here we are. Always keeping us on our toes!